Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is a French region that was created on
January 1, 2016 by merging the former regions of Burgundy and
Franche-Comté. The capital of the region is Dijon.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is the fifth largest region (excluding overseas
regions) at 47,963 square kilometers and has 2,801,695 inhabitants (as
of 2020), making it the third smallest region by population. It is
divided into the eight departments of Côte-d'Or, Doubs, Haute-Saône,
Jura, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Territoire de Belfort and Yonne. It
borders (clockwise from the north) the Grand Est region, Switzerland,
and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Centre-Val de Loire and Île-de-France
regions.
Auxerre (Population: ~34,800):
Prefecture of the Yonne department, located on the Yonne River.
Known for its compact old town with beautiful half-timbered
houses and the Abbey of St. Germain, featuring crypt frescos
dating back to the time of Charlemagne. A Town of Art and
History, it's also a gateway to nearby vineyards.
Beaune (Population: ~20,000): A key
wine-producing town in Côte-d'Or, situated between Dijon and
Chalon-sur-Saône. Famous for its medieval heritage, including
the iconic Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu) with its colorful
tiled roof and the Polyptych of the Last Judgment by Rogier van
der Weyden. A hub for Burgundy wines and culinary traditions.
Besançon (Population: ~116,000):
Seat of the regional council in Doubs department. Boasts a
stunning old city with Renaissance architecture, the
UNESCO-listed Vauban-designed citadel overlooking green hills,
and the Cathedral of Saint John. It's a vibrant university town
blending history, art, and commerce.
Dijon
(Population: ~157,000): The regional capital and former seat of
the Dukes of Burgundy. Highlights include the opulent Palace of
the Dukes of Burgundy, historic downtown streets loaded with
medieval and Renaissance buildings, and mustard production. A
UNESCO site for its gastronomy and architecture.
Mâcon (Population: ~33,600): Colorful
city on the Saône River in Saône-et-Loire, serving as a gateway
to the Beaujolais wine region. Features vineyards, a lively
riverside, and historic sites like the Saint-Laurent Bridge.
Known for its Mâconnais wines and relaxed atmosphere.
Sens (Population: ~26,000): Located in
Yonne, famous for its pioneering Gothic Cathedral of
Saint-Étienne (one of the first in France, built in the 12th
century) with stunning stained glass. A historic trading town
with museums and Roman remnants, over 10,000 inhabitants, making
it a key urban center.
Aiserey
(Population: ~300): Small village in Côte-d'Or near Dijon, known
for its rural charm and proximity to Burgundy canals. Limited
attractions but offers peaceful countryside walks and local
farms; historically tied to regional agriculture.
Autun (Population: ~13,000): Ancient
Roman city founded by Emperor Augustus, featuring substantial
ruins like the Porte d'Arroux, Porte de St André, and the
largest Roman theater in Gaul. Also home to the Romanesque
Cathedral of Saint-Lazare with its famous tympanum sculpture.
Avallon (Population: ~6,200): Perched on
the edge of the Morvan Regional Park in Yonne, a medieval town
with ramparts, the Romanesque Church of Saint-Lazare, and scenic
views. Historically a stop on trade routes, it's a gateway to
hiking and nature.
Chablis
(Population: ~2,200): Iconic wine town in Yonne, exclusively
producing renowned Chablis white wines from Chardonnay grapes.
Features tasting cellars, vineyards, and a historic center; a
must for oenophiles.
Époisses
(Population: ~750): Picturesque village in Côte-d'Or, celebrated
for its creamy, washed-rind Époisses cheese (AOC protected).
Attractions include the Renaissance Château d'Époisses with
gardens and a cheese factory outlet for tastings.
Migennes (Population: ~7,000): Town in
Yonne on the Yonne River and Canal de Bourgogne, serving as a
base for boat rentals and canal cruising. Features a TGV station
and industrial history, with nearby hiking trails.
Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne (Population: ~240):
Charming village in Doubs, nestled in the Jura mountains. Known
for the scenic source of the Lison River with waterfalls and
caves; ideal for nature lovers and hiking in a karst landscape.
Nevers (Population: ~32,800):
Prefecture of Nièvre on the Loire River, famous for its Gothic
Cathedral, Loire Bridge, and as a pilgrimage site for the
remains of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. Also renowned for
faience pottery.
Paray-le-Monial
(Population: ~9,000): In Saône-et-Loire, centered around the
Romanesque Basilique du Sacré-Coeur (a smaller-scale Cluny
replica). A spiritual site with Cluniac architecture, museums,
and gardens; historically a monastic center.
Saint-Claude (Population: ~8,500): In
the Jura department, known as the world capital of pipe-making
and diamond cutting. Features a cathedral, museums on crafts,
and access to Jura Mountains for skiing and hiking.
Saulieu (Population: ~2,300): Gastronomic
hub in Côte-d'Or within the Morvan Park, home to the
three-Michelin-starred Relais Bernard Loiseau. Romanesque
Basilica of Saint-Andoche with notable capitals; surrounded by
forests.
Semur-en-Auxois
(Population: ~4,100): Medieval walled town on a pink granite
plateau in Côte-d'Or, encircled by the Armançon River. Key
sights include the Gothic Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame,
massive keep, towers, and nearby MuséoParc Alésia (Gallo-Roman
site).
Vannaire (Population: ~50):
Tiny hamlet in Côte-d'Or, offering rural tranquility with
limited attractions. Part of the broader Auxois countryside,
suitable for quiet escapes and local exploration.
Vesoul (Population: ~15,100): Prefecture
of Haute-Saône, featuring Lac de Vesoul-Vaivre for water sports,
an English garden, and a historic old town. Known for its role
in regional administration and cultural events.
Vézelay (Population: ~400): UNESCO-listed
hilltop village in Yonne, dominated by the Romanesque Basilica
of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine (pilgrimage start to Santiago de
Compostela). Features relics, vineyards, and panoramic views; a
symbol of medieval faith.
How to Get to Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (also known as Burgundy-Franche-Comté) is a
beautiful region in eastern France, famous for its vineyards, historic
towns like Dijon and Beaune, and charming countryside.
1. By
Train (Recommended Option)
The high-speed TGV network makes traveling
to the region very easy and comfortable.
From Paris:
To Dijon:
about 1.5 hours
To Besançon: around 2 hours
Frequent daily
departures from Paris Gare de Lyon and other major French cities.
Good connections also available from Lyon, Strasbourg, Switzerland
(Geneva, Basel), and beyond.
Tip: Book tickets through SNCF Connect
or Trainline.
2. By Plane
The region has smaller airports, so
many travelers fly into nearby larger hubs and then take a train or car.
Here are the main airport options:
Dijon Bourgogne Airport – Small
airport with mostly domestic and limited regional flights.
Dole-Jura
Airport – Located about 50 km from Dijon; offers some flights to
Portugal, Morocco, and Corsica.
Lyon Saint-Exupéry – Major
international airport, roughly 1.5–2 hours away by train or car.
Geneva Airport (GVA) – Excellent choice for the eastern part of the
region (Franche-Comté).
Basel-Mulhouse Airport – Useful for the
northeast, with many low-cost flights.
Paris Charles de Gaulle or
Orly – Best for long-haul travelers, followed by a fast TGV train.
3. By Car
Driving is a great option for exploring the region
freely.
From Paris: A6/A31 motorway (around 3 to 3.5 hours to
Dijon/Beaune).
From Lyon: A6 north (1.5–2 hours).
From
Switzerland: Via A40 or routes near Geneva.
From Germany/Alsace: Via
A36.
Driving is especially recommended if you plan to visit wine
routes and small villages.
4. Other Options
Bus:
Budget-friendly services like FlixBus from major cities.
Inside the
region: Use TER trains, regional buses, or rent a car/bike.
Canal
boats: A scenic and relaxing way to travel through the Burgundy canals.
Prehistory and Antiquity
The area has been inhabited since the
Paleolithic era. In the Iron Age, Celtic tribes, particularly the
Sequani in what is now Franche-Comté, dominated the region. Julius
Caesar’s conquest of Gaul (58–52 BCE) incorporated it into the Roman
Empire as part of Gallia Lugdunensis and other provinces. Roman rule
brought infrastructure, villas, roads, and urbanization. Significant
Roman sites exist, such as large villas discovered near Auxerre.
The
region was heavily settled by Germanic peoples during the Migration
Period. The Burgundians, a Germanic tribe, established a kingdom in the
5th century (initially around Worms, then resettled in the Rhône-Saône
valleys after conflicts with the Huns and Romans). This "Second
Burgundian Kingdom" influenced the area’s name and identity. In 534 CE,
the Franks under the Merovingians conquered it, integrating it into the
Frankish realm.
Early Medieval Period: Kingdom of Burgundy
Under the Merovingians and Carolingians, the territory formed part of
the Kingdom of Burgundy (or Burgundia). The 843 Treaty of Verdun divided
the Carolingian Empire: the western part evolved into the Duchy of
Burgundy (tied to West Francia/France), while eastern areas became the
County of Burgundy within the Kingdom of Burgundy (later part of Middle
Francia and then the Holy Roman Empire).
In the 9th–10th centuries,
powerful local lords like Richard the Justiciar helped consolidate the
Duchy of Burgundy. It became a key feudal entity under Capetian dukes
from the 11th century onward. Meanwhile, the County of Burgundy (in the
east) gained autonomy. In 1032, the Kingdom of Burgundy passed to the
Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II, but local control remained fragmented.
High and Late Middle Ages: Rise of the Dukes of Burgundy
The
Duchy of Burgundy flourished under the Valois dukes starting with Philip
the Bold (r. 1363–1404), who received it from his father, King John II
of France. Through strategic marriages, inheritance, and conquest, the
Valois dukes (Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good, and
Charles the Bold) built a powerful state that included much of the Low
Countries (modern Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), parts of northern
France, and the Free County of Burgundy.
The dukes created a
sophisticated court culture in Dijon and other centers, patronizing arts
(e.g., Flemish primitives, sculpture) and establishing institutions like
the Order of the Golden Fleece (1430).
Economically, the region
benefited from vineyards, trade, and monastic agriculture. The Cluniac
(founded 910 at Cluny) and Cistercian (Cîteaux, 1098; Fontenay) monastic
movements originated here, profoundly influencing medieval Europe
through reform, architecture, and wine production.
Charles the
Bold’s death in 1477 at the Battle of Nancy ended the peak of Burgundian
power. His daughter Mary married Maximilian of Habsburg, transferring
many territories (including Franche-Comté) to the Habsburgs. The Duchy
proper was largely absorbed by France under Louis XI, though it retained
some autonomy.
Franche-Comté: The "Free County"
The eastern
County of Burgundy earned the name Franche-Comté ("Free County") in the
12th century when Count Raynald III asserted independence from Holy
Roman Emperor Lothar II, becoming a franc-comte. It remained tied to the
Empire but developed its own institutions (parliament in Dole).
In
1384, it passed to Philip the Bold through marriage, temporarily uniting
it with the Duchy. After 1477, it stayed under Habsburg control (Spanish
Habsburgs from the 16th century), serving as a strategic link in their
encirclement of France. It faced invasions during the Thirty Years’ War
and other conflicts. France conquered it definitively in 1674 under
Louis XIV; the Treaty of Nijmegen (1678) ceded it to France. It became a
French province, with Besançon as a key center (fortified by Vauban).
Serfdom persisted longer here than in much of France.
Early
Modern to Revolutionary Period
The Duchy of Burgundy, now firmly
French, was governed by princes like the Condés. Both areas contributed
to French absolutism but retained distinct identities. The French
Revolution (1789) abolished the provinces, creating departments and
ending feudal privileges. The region saw significant upheaval, with
monastic properties (like Cluny) secularized or destroyed.
In the
19th–20th centuries, Burgundy became synonymous with world-renowned
wines (Côte d’Or, etc.), while Franche-Comté industrialized (watches,
automobiles in Montbéliard-Sochaux, cheese, forestry). Both suffered in
the World Wars; the Belfort Gap was strategically vital.
20th–21st Centuries and the 2016 Merger
Post-WWII, the areas were
separate administrative regions (1956–2015). France’s 2014 territorial
reform merged them to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency,
effective 2016. This reunited the historic "two halves" of Burgundy
after centuries apart.
Today, the region blends rich history with
modern strengths: wine tourism (Burgundy’s Route des Grands Crus),
gastronomy (escargot, Charolais beef, Comté cheese), Romanesque abbeys
(Cluny, Fontenay—UNESCO sites), medieval towns (Dijon’s Palace of the
Dukes, Beaune’s Hospices), Vauban fortifications, and natural beauty
(Jura Mountains, forests, rivers). It remains a cultural crossroads
between France, Switzerland, and broader European history.
The composition of the region into departments is as follows.
The region is located in the northeast quarter of France. It borders the
Grand Est regions to the north, Île-de-France and Centre-Val de Loire to
the west, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to the south, and it shares a border with
Switzerland to the east.
The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region,
which results from the merger of two local authorities (Bourgogne and
Franche-Comté) decided as part of the territorial reform of 2014, covers
47,784 km2. It is, in area, the fifth of the thirteen regions of
metropolitan France (ie 9% of metropolitan territory), and thus has a
territory of comparable size to countries such as Slovakia, Switzerland
or Estonia. It is one of the two constituent regions of the French Grand
Est with the Grand Est region.
The subsoil contains clay, sandstone, limestone (which provides, for
example, the building stones of Châtillonnais, Comblanchien and Molay),
gypsum and alluvium (sandpits of Lure) exploited in quarries and many
resources formerly exploited in mines such as precious metals, iron ore
and rock salt: in the Jura (salines of Arc-et-Senans, Salins-les-Bains
and Lons-le-Saunier) and in Haute-Saône with the saltworks of Gouhenans,
Saulnot and Mélecey.
The main resource of the subsoil is coal,
the extraction of which has been abandoned since the second half of the
20th century, mainly located in the south of Burgundy with the coal
mines of Blanzy made up of three deposits: Blanzy, Épinac and Decize
surrounded by small sites that have remained independent: La
Chapelle-sous-Dun and Aubigny-la-Ronce. The important deposit of the Sud
Nivernais discovered quite recently (its existence was made public in
1986) is not exploited so as not to harm the environment. To the east,
the coal basins of the Vosges and the Jura have three deposits on
Comtois territory: the sub-Vosges and the Keupérien basin have been
exploited to a lesser extent than Blanzy, only the Ronchamp coal mines,
closed in 1958, having been industrialized; the Jura Stephanian basin is
only prospected and only small quantities of gas were extracted there
until 1964. Anthracite is extracted in Sincey-lès-Rouvray until 1908 and
lignite formerly exploited in Côte-d'Or , in the Yonne and in the Doubs.
The subsoil also contains oil shale, mined industrially until 1957 in
the Telots mine in the Autun oil shale deposit and more briefly, in the
interwar period, in that of Creveney, not far from Vesoul.
Three main mountain ranges mark the landscape. The Vosges massif is
located to the northeast, the highest point in the region is the Ballon
d'Alsace (1,247 meters). The Jura extends over the entire eastern limit
and culminates in the homonymous department at the Pela crest (1,495
meters), the latter is also the highest peak in the region. The Vosges
and the Jura meet in the Gap of Belfort. The Morvan occupies a central
place in the western part, its highest point is the Haut-Folin (901
meters).
Other more modest massifs exist. North-east of the
Morvan is the Côte d'Or, an escarpment created by the formation of a
rift, which rises to 641 meters above sea level. The Massif Central
reaches the southern part of the region through the Mâconnais which is
dominated by Mont Saint-Cyr (771 metres).
The main navigable rivers are the Saône and the Doubs. The Loire
crosses the south-west of the region at the level of Nevers but it is
not practicable because of the sandbanks. The Seine also has its source
in Côte-d'Or.
Part of the regional hydrographic network has its
source in neighboring Switzerland (notably the Allan watershed).
The region has dozens of lakes, such as Lac des Rousses, Lac de Chalain,
Lac du Vernois, Lac de Lamoura, Lac de Vesoul-Vaivre, Lac de Saint-Point
(3rd largest natural lake in France), Lac de Remoray , Lac de Bonlieu,
Lac de Narlay, Lac des Settons, Lac de Pannecière and the famous Lac de
Vouglans which is the third largest artificial reservoir in France with
605 million cubic meters. In the Saônoises Vosges is the Mille Etangs
plateau.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is a crossroads between Germany, Switzerland, Italy to the east and Île-de-France, the French Atlantic coast to the west, but also between Benelux to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
The region is made up of a network of 868 km of motorways: the main
motorway axis is the A6, known as the Autoroute du Soleil, which
connects Paris and Lyon by crossing the region from north-west to south
over nearly 300 km and serves the towns of Auxerre, Beaune,
Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon. The second major motorway is the A36,
nicknamed La Comtoise, which leaves from Beaune, in the center of the
region, and heads east to reach Alsace and the German border at
Mulhouse. Covering approximately 200 km within Burgundy-Franche-Comté,
it serves the towns of Dole, Besançon, Montbéliard and Belfort. Covering
120 km on the regional territory, the A39 connects Dijon to the south of
the region along a north-south axis which makes it possible to relieve
the A6 by passing near Dole and Lons-le-Saunier. Starting from Beaune to
the north, the A31 (80 km in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) allows you to
reach Lorraine and Luxembourg via Dijon. The A77 motorway exclusively
serves the department of Nièvre over 80 km, along a north-south axis
along the western limit of the region: it connects Nevers to
Île-de-France. A few minor motorway bars complete the network, the A5
(40 km), the A19 (30 km), the A38 (40 km), the A40 (3 km), the A406 (2
km), the A391 (4 km), the A311 (5 km).
The main road network is
supplemented by 768 km of national roads. Linking Nancy to the
Franco-Swiss border along a north-south route, national road 57 runs 180
km through the departments of Haute-Saône and Doubs, passing through
Luxeuil-les-Bains, Vesoul, Besançon and Pontarlier. The N151 connects
Auxerre to La Charité-sur-Loire (100 km) via Clamecy. The N19
Langres-Belfort which has a hundred kilometers from east to west through
the Haute-Saône serves Vesoul and Lure. In Saône-et-Loire, the N79 which
crosses the department from east to west over 80 km, from Mâcon to
Digoin via Paray-le-Monial, the N70 which connects the latter to
Montchanin over 40 km and the N80 from Montchanin in Chalon-sur-Saône
(30 km), constitute the Burgundian portion of the Center-Europe Atlantic
road (RCEA). Known for its high accident rate, it is gradually being
transformed into a 2x2 lane expressway. The N5 crosses the Jura
department for 70 km from Poligny to Champagnole and as far as Les
Rousses, on the border between France and Switzerland. From Besançon to
Poligny, the N83 stretches over sixty kilometres.
The rail network in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is organized around the
main cities: Besançon and Dijon. The main line is the Paris-Belfort line
via Dijon and Besançon. This line is LGV from Paris to Montbard (LGV
Sud-Est) and from Dijon to Belfort (LGV Rhin-Rhône). The territory is
also crisscrossed by secondary roads, where mainly TER
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté circulate, on a network of 1,951 km.
The
largest station in the region is Dijon-Ville, which in 2019 welcomes 5.8
million passengers; Next come the stations of Besançon-Viotte (2.2
million passengers in 2019) and Belfort-Ville (1.1 million passengers in
2019). All the other stations served less than one million passengers in
2019. Note that the cities of Besançon, Belfort and Montbéliard have a
second station on the LGV Rhin-Rhône: Besançon Franche-Comté TGV and
Belfort - Montbéliard TGV .
The commissioning of the first phase
of the eastern branch of the LGV Rhin-Rhône in 2011 made it possible to
significantly shorten journey times. The journey time between Belfort
and Paris (gare de Lyon) has thus been reduced from 3 h to 2 h 30 min,
between Besançon and Paris from 2 h 30 min to 2 h, between Besançon and
Lyon from 2 h 20 min to 1 h 55 min10 and between Besançon and
Strasbourg, from 2 h 30 min to 1 h 40 min. At the same time, connections
between several cities in the region have also been shortened, going
from a journey of 1h to 0h30min between Dijon and Besançon and from
1h15min to 0h25min between Besançon and Belfort . In all, 14 stations
are served by the TGV in the region.
Several extensions of the
LGV Rhin-Rhône are planned: the second phase of the East branch, which
will constitute 50 km of new line, including 35 km to the east and 15 km
to the west, could be financed by 2027 or 2038 ; the West branch, in
project, intended to connect the East branch to the LGV Sud-Est, and
thus to the Paris region, crossing the Dijon conurbation by its eastern
edge; finally, the southern branch, also at the project stage, which
would represent approximately 150 km of new line to connect the eastern
branch to Lyon and the LGV Méditerranée, ensuring a connection of the
population basins of the cities of eastern France, from Benelux, Germany
and northern Switzerland to the Lyon metropolitan area and the
Mediterranean arc.
The region is served by the only Dole-Jura airport, owned by the Jura
departmental council. Located between Besançon and Dijon, it welcomed
more than 100,000 passengers in 2018 and offers several regular lines in
France or abroad.
The airports of Besançon - La Vèze and
Dijon-Bourgogne are only geared towards business flights in the absence
of regular commercial lines.
The absence of major airport
structures is explained by the proximity of international airports in
Paris, Basel, Geneva and Lyon, easily accessible from the region.
The region is served by many canals (Canal du Rhône au Rhin, Canal de Bourgogne, Canal du Centre, Canal du Nivernais, Canal lateral de Roanne à Digoin).